Flushing device.



I F. j. wom.

ELLLSHlNG 'EVICE.

NFHMCATIGN FRED OCT. 23. 19M.

1,298,8@Qw Patentd Apr. 1, N19.

2 SHEETS--SHEET i.

F. 1. WOLFF.

FLUSHING DEVICE.

APPUCATION FILD OCT. 23. 1914.

1,298,849, Patented Apr. 1,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

earns Arran anion.

FBANKLYN J. WOLFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOL. WOLFFMANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FLUSI-IING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

Application led October. 23, 1914. Serial No'. 868,307.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANKLYN J. WoLFF, a citizen of the United States,residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful provement in Flushing Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates in general to automatic flushing valves for closetbowls, and more particularly to valves of the regulating and measuringtype which are adapted to deliver a predetermined quantity of water bymerely pressing a button or pullingupon a lever to give the valve itsinitial opening.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a valve of thischaracter adapted to be quickly and easily opened to permit flushing ofthe closet bowl and to be more slowly closed when the operating memberis released, the slow rate of closing permitting the admission to thebowl of the desired quantity of water for liushing, and this with thepresentation of minimum resistance to the passage of the water.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device inwhich all of the moving and controlling parts will be of much simplifiedform and greatly reduced number and al1 incased in a compact and easilyconstructed housing or shell.

A further object of this invention is to construct a valve of thischaracter in which will be eliminated all cams, crank actions, and othercomplicated and expensive ma chine parts.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a flushingvalve wherein all the moving parts except the valve member itself may bereadily removed after having been installed without shutting olf thewater and without removing the valve casing from position.

And still another object of the invention is the provision of a flushingvalve which when installed in exposed position will vpresent only thecasing to be periodically polished to keep the fixture in brightcondition.

Other objects and advantages of the inventionwill be apparent as it isbetter understood from the following description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferredembodiment thereof. f v

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a valve embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig.l; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig.l.

The valve embodying my invention shown on the drawings `comprises acasing or housing 5 in which the various moving parts are arranged, aswill be later described, and which has a water inlet at 6 and an outletto the closet bowl at 7. The casing 5 consists, in the present instance,of a relatively large cylindrical portion 8 having a laterally extendingelbow 9, in the end of which the inlet 6 is provided and through thebottom of which the water passes to the outlet 7 The inlet 6 is adaptedto be closed by a main valve 10 coperating with a seat member 11. Theseat member in the present instance consists of a cylindrical hollowsleeve threaded at 12 for internal Vengagement with the open end of theelbow 9 and having an outwardly extending shoulder 13 adapted to rest ina recess 14 in the end of the elbow 9, the shoulder 13 pressing againstthe bottom of the recess where it is held in tight engagement by thethreads on the seat' member and inside the elbow. Beyond the shoulder 13an outwardly extending rib 15 is provided to engage the valve, asuitable gasket 16 being provided in the adjacent face of thevalveitself. The valve is guided in its movement byy astem 17 extending intoand through the seat member when the valve is closed, and this stem hasa plurality (3 in the present instance) of radially extending webs 18adapted to engage the inner surface of the valve seat member to steadythe valve in its movement and yet permit the ready flow of water. Thevalve 10 carries an auxiliary valve 19, of any suitable soft material,mounted upon a stem 20 which extends through a suitable apertureQl inthe valve 10, the valve 19 being held between a shoulder 22 and a cap 23onthe stem 20. The stem extends clear through the valve 10 and projectsvinwardly of it, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner end of the stembeing provided with a nut or head 24 which is readily slidable in anenlarged recess 25 in the valve stem. 17 of the valve l0. In this recessand vao normally holding the valve in seated position shown, is a spring26 adapted to be compressed by pressure exerted upon the nut or head 24of the valve stem 20. The valve 19 closes a recess 27 which otherwisecommunicates with the inlet and this recess, through suitable by-passes28, is in communication with the interior ofthe casing 5. The purpose ofthis auxiliary valve is two-fold. When the valve is operated, as will belater described, it will be seen that the Valve 19 opens before thevalve 10 and breaks the pressure sustained by the valve 10 from thewater main connected with the inlet, and it will also bemanifest thatthe valve 19 closes later than the valve 10 and thereby provides forrefilling the closet bowl after flushing.

Both valves are adapted to be operated by a bell crank lever 31 mountedwithin ythe housing or casing 5f and pivoted at 32 just above vandrearwardly of the inner ends of the Valve stems 17 and 20. One arm 33 ofthis lever extends downward behind the endsof these stems in position toengage successively first the valve stem of the auxiliary valve 19 andlater the valve stem of the main valve 10. The other arm 34 of thislever is of stirr'up or bifurcated formation and inthe present instanceextends about an oil cylinder 35. The two portions of this end arepivotally connected at 36 with the lower ends of two links 37 which areconnected at their upper ends to a cross member or yoke 38 secured upona hollow vertically movable rod 39. The rod 39 carries at its upper enda button 40 adapted to be pressed to open thevalves andvflush the closetbowl. The button 40 is located above and out of the casing or housing 5,the rod 39 passing through a removable head 41 provided with .a suitablestuli'ing box 42 to prevent leakage around the rod. The rod 39 andbutton40 are normally held in upper position by the oil cylinder and itsattendant parts, as will now be described.

The oil cylinder consists of a cylindrical chamber or casing 43 in whichmoves a plunger or piston 44 secured to the lower end ot the rod 39. Aspring 45 is placed within vthe cylinder beneath the piston with one endresting in or against a plug 46 screwed into the casing at 47 and theother end resting in an annular' recess 48 in the lower face of thepiston. The casing 43 is secured in threaded engagement at 49 with theplug 46 at the lower yend and at the upper end in threaded engagementwith a head or closure 50 through which the rod 39 extends, a suitablestufiing box 51 being provided. The piston in the ypresent instanceconsists ot a central hub 52 perforatedl centrally at 53 and a ri'm 54connected by radially extendf ing spokes or webs 55 with the hub. Theupper portion of the rim is beveledv internally to provide a valve seat56 for a valve 57 slidably mounted on the rod` 39 and is provided-on itsouter face with a circumferentially extending shoulder 58 against whicha yielding packing 59 is held by a ring 60 threaded onto the lowerportion of the piston, the ring 60 being adapted to be turned to bringthe packing against the internal surface of the cylinder to form aliquid-tight fit. Above the valve 57 a plurality of apertures 62 areprovided through the rod 39 to establish communication between the upperportion of the cylinder and its lower portion through the perforation53.

When the valve embodying my invention and just described is installed,the cylinder 35 is filled with oil orany other suitable liquid andpressure exerted upon the button 40 downwardly will force thepiston'toward the bottom of the cylinder, compressing the spring anddriving the oil up between 'the valve 57 and its seat 56 at greatrapidity, the movement of this valve against the pressure of the oil inthe lower half of the cylinder holding it well above the seat to providea large passage for the oil. This downward movement of the piston causesthe operation first of the auxiliary valve 19 and immediately thereafterof the main valve 10 under the action of the bell crank lever 31. Whenthe button 40 has been pushed down and is released, expansion of thespring 45 causes the valve 57 to seat in the pistony and the oil thathas been disposed above the piston must pass back into the lower portionof the cylinder through the apertures 62 in the rod 39 and then lthroughthe perforation 53. In order that this flow of oil may be regulated aneedle valve 63 within the rod 39 is provided, this valve being mountedupon the end of a stem 64 having a threaded head 65 in engagement withthreads 66 in the upper end of the rod 39 and just below the button 40,this valve being capable of regulation by merely removing the button 40and engaging a screw I driver or other suitable tool in a Islot 67 inthe upper end of the needle valve rod 64. y In order that the valveembodying my invention just described may be; supplied to the tradewithout danger ofA damagingtheparts, I provide a ,protective bushing 68n will be manifest that aleen Cylinder.

levers and plunger rod operate whollywith'- in the casing or housing 5and may be read ily removed therefrom by vmerely. unscrewing the plug orcap 46 andl button 40. This operation may be accomplished withoutshutting ott the water if removal of these parts is desired for repair.The pressure of the water in the main is against both the auxiliaryvalve 19 and the main valve 10, so that these valves are held upon theirscat independently of the lever 31 or any of the other moving parts. Thevalve may be placed in any position, that is to say the rod 39 may bedisposed vertically or horizontally, as may be desirable, withoutaffecting the efficiency of the device. Few moving parts are necessaryin the construction of the valve and these may be made at littleexpense. The casing or housing may be of smooth and simple construction,easily cast, finished and polished and when the valve has once beeninstalled only the casing itself needs occasional polishing to keep thefixture in presentable and attractive condition. Any leakage of oil fromthe oil cylinder is into the water chamber and the oil leaking willtherefore be carried into the closet chamber and cannot be smeared overthe casing where it might collect dust or soil the clothes of personsusing the seat.

It will be manifest also that the flushing device embodying my inventionand shown on the drawing presents a minimum obstruction to the freepassage of the water in flushing and presents also minimum frictionalresistance thereto. The water enters and passes around a sharp curve tothe outlet. Little friction is interposed to this passage by reason ofthe fact that on the greater side of the curve the stream flows againsta water wall formed at or about the dotted line shown in Fig. 1 by thewater driven into the body of the casing 5, the only friction beingpresent at the short side of the turn, away from which the water tendsto flow by centrifugal action in moving from the inlet to the outlet.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beobvious that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the formhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

1. A flushing valve comprising a cylindrical casing having a. lateralextension, the end of said extension providing an inlet opening and thebase an outlet opening, a valve adapted to close against the end of saidextension, a lever disposed wholly within said casing, a retardingdevice within and independent of said casing and connected with saidlever and means for actuating said lever and said retarding device toopen said valve for a predetermined period.

2. A flushing valve comprising a onepiece single chamber casing open atits top and bottom, closures for said top and bottom, said casing beingprovided with inlet and outlet openings, a valve for closing said inletopening, a bell crank for moving said valve to open position and forcontrolling its subsequent closing movement, a retarder for delaying`movement of said lever to permit the valve to close, a push rod disposedthrough said closure for the top of said casing and connections betweensaid retarding device, said push rod and said lever, said retardingdevice and said lever and all of said connections being disposed withina single chamber within said casing.

3. A flushing valve comprising: a single chamber casing having inlet andoutlet openings, a valve for closing one of said openings, a lever formoving said valve to open position, a retarder for delaying movement ofsaid lever in permitting said valve to close, a push rod extending intosaid casing for operating said lever, connections between said retarder,said rod and said lever, and all of said connections being disposed insaid single chamber of the casing.

4. A flushing valve comprising: a single chamber casing having inlet andoutlet openings, and open at its top and bottom, a valve for closing oneof said openings, a lever disposed within the casing for operating saidvalve, closures for the open top and bottom of said casing, one of saidclosures carrying a retarding device within the casing` said retardingdevice being connected with said lever and for delaying the closingaction of said valve.

5. A flushing valve comprising: a single chamber casing having inlet andoutlet openings, a valve for closing one of said openings, a lever formoving said valve to open position, a retarder for delaying movement ofsaid lever in permitting said valve to close, means extending into thecasing for operating said lever, and connections between sai'd retarder,said means and said lever, said retarder, said means and said lever andsaid connections being disposed within a single chamber of said casingand removable therefrom without affecting the position of said valve.

6. A flushing valve comprising a cha-mber having inlet and outletopenings, a bellcrank pivoted within said chamber, a valve having a.stem disposed adjacent one arm of said bell-crank for closing said inletopening, a retarding device mounted within said chamber, alongitudinally movable rod for actuating said retarding device andconnections between said rod and the other arm of said bell-crank forconnecting said bellcrank with said retarding device and with said rodwhereby downward pressure of the rod will move the bell-crank to openthe valve and the retai'ding device will` delay return movement of saidbellcrank to permit closing of the valve.

7. A flushing valve comprising ai casing 5 havinginletI and outletopenings, a valve adapted to close said inlet Openings, a bellcrankhaving an arm bifurcated and the other arm disposed in'position toengage and move said valve, links connected to the 10 bifureated arm ofsaid bell-crank, a push retarding device, 'yo-ke and links being di's- 1posed Within said Casing.

FRANKLYN J. WOLFF; Witnesses:

J. C. CARPENTER, THOMAS J. OBRIEN.

Copies of thisv patent may 'be qbtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of IPtents,

Washington, D. C.

